Shreyas Iyer and Co visit Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe ahead of second T20I
Harare, July 25
Shreyas Iyer-led India were hosted by the Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe, H.E. Bramha Kumar, at India House in Harare ahead of the second T20I of the three-match series. Skipper Iyer and interim head coach VVS Laxman were felicitated by the Ambassador during the visit.
"An evening to remember in Harare. H.E. Bramha Kumar, Ambassador of India to Zimbabwe hosted #TeamIndia at the India House in Harare ahead of the second T20I against Zimbabwe," BCCI wrote on X while sharing pictures from the meet-up.
The reception comes after India ended their recent struggles with a commanding seven-wicket victory in the series opener. Having suffered back-to-back series whitewashes against Ireland and England, the three-time T20 World Cup champions finally delivered a polished all-round performance to take a 1-0 lead.
The win was also a landmark moment for Iyer, who registered his first victory as India's T20I captain after six defeats in his first two assignments since succeeding Suryakumar Yadav.
With momentum on their side, India will now aim to clinch the series when they face Zimbabwe in the second T20I at the Harare Sports Club on Saturday.
The opening victory was headlined by teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who blasted a record-breaking 18-ball half-century to become the youngest player to score a T20I fifty in international cricket. Returning pacer Mayank Yadav also made an immediate impact, claiming 2-18 in a fiery spell.
Chasing 126, India comfortably reached the target with 40 balls to spare, thanks to useful contributions from Ishan Kishan and skipper Iyer after Vaibhav's explosive knock. Opener Abhishek Sharma, who scored his maiden T20I century at this venue two years ago, fell cheaply in the opener and will be looking to bounce back.
The Indian think tank, led by Laxman, will also be encouraged by the performance of its young pace attack. Mayank, returning after a 21-month injury layoff, consistently clocked high speeds and generated sharp bounce, while Prince Yadav picked up two wickets and debutant Ashok Sharma impressed with his raw pace.
Zimbabwe, meanwhile, will need a much-improved batting display after their top order struggled against India's fast bowlers in the opening match. With no rest day before Sunday's series finale, India will be eager to wrap up the series on Saturday and then target a 3-0 clean sweep in the final game on Sunday.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm honestly more excited about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi! An 18-ball fifty at his age? That's insane! 😱 We keep unearthing these young talents in every series and it's amazing to see. But someone needs to tell the team management to stop rotating captains every other series. Give Iyer a proper run as captain with a settled XI, not this chopping and changing after every match. Consistency matters!
Nice diplomatic touch from the BCCI, sending the team to the embassy. As someone who follows Indian cricket closely from abroad, I think this tour is a great opportunity for fringe players to get exposure. Vaibhav looks like a future star. My concern is whether they're managing his workload properly - he's only 17. We've seen too many young Indian talents burn out early. Hope Laxman and the team handle him with care.
Double standards at its finest! When Iyer loses, people call for his head; when he wins, it's "momentum" and "leadership quality". The guy has lost six out of seven matches as captain before this. One win against Zimbabwe doesn't make him the next Dhoni. But I will give credit where it's due - Mayank Yadav's comeback was impressive. 21 months out injured and he's bowling 145+? That's the kind of resilience we need to see more often. 💪
Why is everyone ignoring the fact that Abhishek Sharma got out cheaply again? 🫤 He's been inconsistent for a while now. If you ask me, give that opening slot to someone like B Sai Sudharsan who's been performing in domestic cricket. Also, Prince Yadav? Who names their child Prince? 🤣 But jokes aside, good to see young pacers getting opportunities. The India-Zimbabwe connection has always had something special - since those
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